UK: the ownership of listed company shares - ONS share register survey report

The Office for National Statistics today published its latest survey of the ownership of listed company shares in the UK: see here (pdf). The report, based on the share register at 31 December 2010, indicates that over 40% of shares are owned by those outside of the UK and that just over half of these shares are owned by those in North America. The proportion of shares owned by insurance companies continues to fall and now stands at 8.6%. The survey reports an increase in the proportion of shares owned by individuals: up from 10.2% (in 2008) to 11.5% (although very much lower than in 1963 when over half of listed company shares were owned by individuals).